Hi everyone,

I hope one of these days, I will be able to answer like Trish does. I just can't do it yet.

I'm up and at em this morning to get ready for yet another doctor appointment. I have to have my pacemaker checked this morning and nothing better be wrong with it or I will have a little hissy fit!!!!

All my social activities are now doctor appointments or vet appointments for my dog. LOL

I'm going to visit my parents after my appointment. I need to check on my Dad and see how he is doing. He was diagnosed with COPD in June and is on oxygen 24/7 so it's not good.

Everyone have a great day! I think my coffee is calling me and I need an eye opener.

Love you all,
Becky:hug:

thanks .... I've been pushing myself too much in this wonderful weather ... and getting excited about some upcoming events and new possibilities for me ..

I will be gone next weekend - getting out of Dodge (that's the county I live in too!) ..

in the meantime - I have to calm down, otherwise I get like Michael Phelps after swimming 800 yards ... and I just got up! LOL

Tricia - congrats on her GED ... I wish I could help ... when I turned 18 (during school) - my dad said that I had to drop out, move out and get a job on my own ... so, I ran away from home for the last 2 months to finish school ... and on the day of graduation - I moved out ... I did borrow $50 from my brother (he was younger) so I had money for food and rent until I found a job ...

found a job within 2 weeks ($2.10/hour) ... and had enough for my share of rent $62.50/month (split with my friend) ..

she can do it ..

Hey everybody,
It's Friday, the most wonderful day of the week!! Hope all who've suffered from hurricanes and flooding are doing all right...thoughts are with all of you.

I went for PT on my foot yesterday, and the therapist worked on my back and hips, to see what's making me walk so weird. He recommends going back to the doc and getting an order for PT on my back and hips to get the tight muscles loosened. And to get a name of a neuro that won't throw me under the bus with a "depression" dx...this guy definitely sees neuro sxs going on, and says that I need to get back to a doc and get it taken care of. I'm so scared to go and be told once again that it's anxiety and depression...and get even more meds thrown at me. Anyway, after he stretched me and worked on the muscles on my hips and back, I did walk a bit better, not dragging the foot as much. So maybe he's got some good ideas...I'm going to be spending all day stretching, with all of the exercises he showed me! But if I don't stretch, he said my hamstrings might stay tight forever, even after I get my bad knees replaced. So I'm going to be a good girl and stretch away!!

I started my MT course...I'm so confused! There's so many places on their website to get instructions and info, and my brain is scrambled eggs right now...which is making it so much worse to get started. :confused:

Sandy...magic number is 2! :D:D

Kelly...glad you met a nice tech while making pancakes...the techs are usually so nice, making a crummy test less intolerable...I hope I can find a chair like you did...right now I'm using a folding chair to do my work. Not so comfy!

Weave...good luck this weekend...stick a candle in one of the muffins and have DH blow it out. Like one of those you can't blow out...might lighten the mood a bit...

Tricia...about the Art Institute...we had a friend whose son went there, decided to transfer out. the Art Institute wasn't accredited, so none of his credits would transfer to any school. Your DD might want to check that out. It might be less costly to go to a community college first, to make sure that's what she wants to major in...and the credits will transfer.

Becky...sorry you're living in doc land right now...hope your pacemaker's okay. And sorry about your dad...you have a lot on your plate right now. Take care of yourself...(((:hug:)))

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!!:D

Debbie D .. what's an "MT" course??

now, where's our little jungle girl been?? KAY!!! KAY!!!

Good morning America(and Belize and you Aussies) how are you, don't you know me I'm your native son......



ok now that we all have same song stuck in our head, how the heck is everyone

Vonnie take it easy today and rest, its easy to get carried away when weather is nice and we feel good, west and welax:hug:

Trish hard love sucks doesn't it:hug: she may be dragging cause she is scared and confused, don't forget that we all, well pretty sure most of us had a moment or two of confusion when it was time to hit the real world, Congrats to DD18 on her fortitude and courage to go back and finish and doing well

Becky howdy howdy, i either have to write it all down or keep scrolling and I still forget something every time. how are you feeling Becky?:hug:

Kelly I was up till wee hours of the morn, no one was on finally start talking to Anne and conked out, gonna have to talk to her earlier in the night lol Just Kidding my cuddly koloa bear:hug: http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/l...ingajoint2.jpg

she watches over me at night, pretty sure I was about to get that special message from her turn off the PC and g to bed lol she is such a charm

Char how you been where ya been? :hug: hope everything is ok with you

Kay, see Kay is right y'all ignored her, just cause she is living in a jungle doesn't mean.... ok sorry now where was I oh yeah Hello Fin how are you , lol Kay just playing, how do you do Kay, geese let you sleep this morn I see, hope this finds you well Kay:hug:

Fin yeah we had a couple warm days 82 ish, still ten down from a few weeks ago, I hope you have a wonderful day and are feeling better

everyone else Sandy Jim Sarah Renee Weave Deb Sharon? did we confuse her away she posted a few times and poof, all gone

ok as the inquiry minds asked they shall receive, this darling angel is sleeping next to me she woke a while ago an i held her in my arms of love and gently hushed her back to a peaceful slumber, she is so precious, and Landon who is still slow on the uptake of talking.. has my name down, two reasons, I can decipher his talk and well the obvious i am a so much fun to be around lol,( its ok my modesty astounds me too) Landon talking is so cool even Deb was smiling ,, papa banawa, papa go potty, papa wook :as he points out the front window:

don't forget papa was his first actually gwandpa was his first but papa he figured was easier... i so miss mine being small.. I know one thing i had it hard being a sole parent no child support, Sean and his troubles seizures LD adhd and bi polar, and i did it with out major side effects from MS. God bless those single parents out there that are lurking and on this and other forums bless their hearts, cause I am not sure I could do it today if I had too, with my MS, so sole parents out there, yeah life is a P.I.T.A, yeah there are not enough hours in the day, yeah you are dead on your feet, and yeah it is all worth it when they do something so wonderful their achievements shines through in your eyes, this is when you know, cool I did it right, and it was worth the struggles

ok so now that I am so side tracked i am pretty sure this is the insights post i was on:Bang-Head:

you all have a safe and wonderful Friday and a great weekend:hug:


Sunshine came softly through my, my window today........

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/l.../heather10.jpg

Debbie - Thanks for the advice!!!:hug:

Vonn - Thanks. I know that she will get it and it is hard on me to do this but I have to. When I spoke to her about it yesterday, I don't think it sunk in. She was more upset that I told her to leave the cell phone in the car than the fact that I just told her she has 1 month to find a job or she has to move out.:rolleyes:

Deb, your post woke something up, i had blocked i guess, in the beginning I was so anxious and nervous scared and canceled appts. they put me lexapro, now this is just me and a few post I have seen on lexapro, its not an overwhelming med, it does calm the soul might be an idea to help with the anxiety, that can get so overbearing at times, i was a train wreck, looking back at where i am now now im just a truck wreck, did that last sentence help lol just funnin with ya, this site has taught me one thing if nothing else, smile, laugh enjoy and carp a DM lol:Doh:

Anyway sorry i sidestepped, Deb my point is you may or may not be this, but my neuro was leaning towards the anxiety and depression DX with me and he was right, I was a nervous wreck, took my meds calmed down and was still a nervous wreck but he saw I was approaching things with a clearer head, and he took my SX more seriously, not saying its how things should work with neuros , I have seen this scenario posted more than a few times with others, maybe it a quirk they get in neuro school, i dont know. I am not saying he is right, I am saying, anxiety was clouding things up for me, and to be anxious, when dealing with a lot, plus illnesses, anxiety is to be expected, Deb I totally agree with being DXed depression and anxiety, its a joke, now you know deep inside what is up with you, so dont second guess yourself Like I did at first, find the answer you seek, happy Friday

Deb - Just an FYI and it is not true in all cases but . . . many, many people who have damage in their brain become depressed and go on AD's. It is not the same as "depression" that we hear about. The depression is a result or consequence, if you will, of the damage in the brain. Some are able to function without ADs, many need the ADs.

Whether it is because of a lack of communication between the neurotransmitters and the serotonin or something else I don't know. But to me it makes sense. Example: If the communication between your brain and bladder is messed up and the messages don't get to where they are supposed to go, then logically, it would be the same between the areas of our brains that deal with emotions. The message can't get to where it is supposed to due to the damage.

Does that help?

Good Morning everyone! I am taking a break from grading papers. We have had temperatures in the low 80s the past few days, but it is not too bad. Humidity is way down. I am not sure what I am doing this weekend. I may take a drive to our area of Amish country -- aobut 45 minutes from here. Otherwise, I am going to try to grade the rest of the papes that were turned in this week so I do not get behind.

Trish, I am struggling with how to respond to your post. I guess I think it is just a little harsh to tell a daughter of 18 that you are kicking her out if she does not have a job in one month. I know at 18 they are legally adults, but does responsiblility to one's kids really end here. But what do I know? I should just shut up. Maybe some tough love is neded at this point. I understand that you want her to become more responsible. So many of our students here seem incapable of making any decisions without consulting their parents.

Are you talking about the Art Institute of Chicago? It is a great school, but really expensive. Plus, it costs so much to live in Chicago. I do know they have scholarships available. I think you have to submit a portfolio both for admission and financial aid. The problem with community college is that she may lose interest if she cannot take design classes. If you have a local art college, that might be a great alternative. At a comunity college, she is going to have to take all of the general ed classes.

Hope everyone has a good weekend. My mom is still powerless. She is going crazy without coffee, tv, email, and her computer games.

Becky, I generally cheat and use the list of previous posts under the reply box. ;) Even with that help, I don't always get everyone. That whole cog fog thing. Don't worry about trying to respond to all, we understand.

Trish, Glad your DD got her GED. Hope she can find the right school to go to.

Frank, she's still cute. Thanks for sharing. :)

Vonn, know what you mean about pushing oneself, lol. Think I'm still recovering from watching the girls the other day. :)

Debbie, any chance your PT guy can write a letter for you stating what he's noticing? Might help.

Everyone, :grouphug:

~~~~~~~

Howdy Hi,

Still recovering, LOL. The only reason it's driving me nuts is that the weather is beautiful and I want to be out in it! :deadhorsebeat: But when painting the background of a picture makes me want to pass out, I'm gonna need to be a good girl today. So resting up before my next small project.

I am definitely the poster child of the "but you look so good" camp. No one can see the stuff I go through. I'm still mobile and can drive. But I can't work because it exhausts me too much and I make major mistakes. :nopity::Soapbox::ranting: Ok, vent over.

Posted a couple of more paintings in my albulm. They were
made for friends in the area.

Hey everyone, I cannot possibly keep up with all of you! Miss too much time here and you come back to four or more pages. lol

I am going to finish the touch up painting on the living room today. Then put my house back together. We're going up to NIU tomorrow for a tailgate party with the boys and then the football game. That should be fun. The fraternity hired a band to play so we'll see.

Renee is fine just tired when she gets home so that's why she hasn't been on. She'll probably come on this weekend to update. Olivia is doing well with her dad but he is messing up Renee's schedule with her. She isn't getting her naps and she's eating McDonald's all the time. Ugh, hopefully the small amount of time he has with her wont make getting her back on schedule tough for Renee or her mom.

Trish, I think your doing the right thing in making her be more responsible. She didn't react because maybe she thinks your not serious. I've seen that in my boys too. If they are not in school, they must have a job. Vacation with a gf/bf does not take priority over that. Sit down with her and tell her if she goes, there will be consequences. I think once she takes you seriously, she'll "man" up so to speak. I have told my boys they are adults, maybe not completely mature but they know if they don't show respect, they can look at the door from the other side. It's worked so far and they are doing great in college and working too, as well as living on their own. The only time they come home is for the summer. Chris is paying rent in a townhouse and Nik took a job with the school that pays his dorm fees.

It's so hard to be a parent. You do not need to be stressed like that and it will catch up with you. :hug: They want to say they are adults but then they do things that do not show their maturity. Demanding her to have a job within the month is not too hard on her at the age of 18. I know, been there, done that. We're here for you no matter what. :hug:

Everyone have a good day and don't be so busy while I am gone. I know I missed so many of you but know I think about you all. :grouphug:

Sandy and Trish, I am sure you guys are right. I just see students here at times that do not have a safety net and I feel really bad for them. They do not have anyone at home to help them out when things get rough. Even though I paid entirely for my own education through scholarships, loans, and part time jobs, my parents, who were struggling financially, were always there with a bag of groceries, frozen diiners that my mom made from leftovers, or 20.00 when I needed help. I also had a period of time when I could not find a full time job for over a year when unemployment was extremely high and I lived at home. But I understand that tough love is needed at times, and that you are not talking about leaving them with that backup support.

Thanks you everyone.:grouphug: I will get through, yet another, rough patch with DD18. We have been going through these for the past couple of years.

Understand, there is more history to all of this, just don't want to bore you all it. lol Seriously though, she does need to pull it together and is one of those that seems to only learn the hard way.:( I can only guide her and give suggestions. The end result will be her decision and she knows that.

EDIT: Barb - I understand what you are saying. I don't have it my heart to leave her high and dry - kick her out the front door never to talk to her again. She knows I will always be there to support her emotionally. However, since she has screwed her dad and I over with her lies about money and using money that we have given her for specific things, based on some sob story, to go play, I think it would be wrong of me to keep giving her money. Yes, she took the $45 her dad gave her to for her GED and spent it on something else. Hence, I had to give her the $45, no I wrote a check to the school for $45 for her GED. The gas money that I have been helping her with has been going to other things as well.

When all this dawned on my, I got wise. If she does ask for money, I ask her for what and have been getting that specific item for her i.e. gas - I go put the gas in her car, work clothes - I will go with her, etc.

Barb, my reason for being strict on my boys is so they know you can't get through life without trying hard. They know if they need help, we are there. If they fall, we'll pick them up. All of this contingent on them trying the best. If they are slacking, no help. If they are trying, we'll be there in the drop of a dime.

I guess I have seen too many kids who are handed everything from birth to adulthood and still don't know how to be independent. I have a cousin who is 30+ years old and still at home. She even says why should she leave when she has it made at her parents home? That is sad and she has a daughter. What is she teaching her?

The boys had rich friends, same thing. Everything handed to them. When I was teaching college, those same kids were some of my most trouble students. They were cocky and acted immature. Not all, but many. It was the students who had to work hard to get where they wanted that seemed more mature.

:hug: My kids know mom and dad are there and will be until we die. They are now adapting the very same saving money ideas that we have. They like having money and they like buying their own stuff. My oldest just bought his first laptop all on his own. He said he felt good about not relying on us for it.

LOL, Sandy. I had to laugh a little. DDs dad is 46 and still lives at home. No, I don't either of my girls to get this idea.

Truly, I want them to be independent and go out there, grasp what the world has to offer, and offer it back as well. They have this whole bright future ahead of them, why live at home with mom? lol

Some kids just have more trouble getting there than others. DD17 is more focused, studious, and really, really wants to move out next fall either in to a dorm or an apartment if she decides to go to the local community college 1st.

it's hard to call it 'tough-love' .. but, sometimes, in the past - some parents didn't know any different - that's the way they were treated (like what my dad did) ...

heard about Donald Trump's boys - they had to work, cutting the lawn - with push mowers ... so that when they would hire another person, they would know what it felt like and time it took to do these types of jobs ... yet, they learned, and respected their dad ... and became responsible individuals thru this learning process ...

but - there is no perfect manual on how to raise kids ...

Hey all,
wow lots to read here, but cogfog blocking my way lol....

well the game was lost...but Mikayla scored a score to tie it up at one point..so quite exciting...

we talking baseball...GO RED SOX GOOOOOOO

feeling blahhh but thinking with lots of hot tea...my throat is feeling a bit better...and the stuff is working out I think....

Yes I wish I could have some time off....from everything for a day..lol...

hugss all....sarah

Sandy, Thanks for the update about renee. Have fun at the tailgate party!

Trish, Tough love is a good thing. Even though my dad was strict about somethings (which helped), I had to learn other things the hard way when I got married and was offically in the real world. Like cooking as one example! I knew how to make bake goods, but never cooked before I got married. There's a lot of stories we can look back at and laugh about regarding our first year together. We made plenty of mistakes, but learned a lot. :)

Talked to my mom when I got home from school and found out that her power came back on at 1:00 a.m. I guess she sent me an email this morning, but I did not check it. It is so confusing when you have 2 accounts sometimes. She is so happy. Hope we hear good news from Sally soon.

well the unnerving silence has crept back in this humble home, the distant memory of children laughing running and playing that was awaken has departed and the silence of children is back as they are gone now, its a sound I cherish dearly, here is one i wrote years ago as a solo parent

The silence of the children"

I love my children so true
You ask how many, well there are two
Both of them rowdy boys I love so dear
Already I wonder where are the years
~~~~~~~~
It scares me to think of them grown
Me with no one to care for at home sad and alone
I know I need not worry about what they will do
For I have taught them always be honorable and true
~~~~~~~~~~
Knowing with all the bad things they have done
I hold no remorse, regrets, absolutely none.
They will grow to be men of truth and grace
Knowing they are men is what puts a smile on my face
~~~~~~~~~~
So remember if you have children too,
Spend time with them now, or someday you will be blue
Wondering what you did and why you are alone
Only to hear the silence of children, because now they are gone(c)

Frank - Another beautiful poem!! Thanks again for sharing your poems and insights.

Barb - Yeah!!! I am so glad you mom finally has electricity. She must be thrilled. Let's hope Sally is next to get hers back.;)

Sarah - Sorry about the game but glad it was an exciting one. How are you feeling this afternoon?

Hi Everyone,

My pacemaker check went fine.:) My heart is keeping above 60 beats per minute 94% of the time. So the pacemaker is only kicking in 6%. Good news on that appointment.:)

My new Cardio doctor preformed the implant 6 months ago and I've been in his office several times but dealt with the nurse and the pacemaker tech, so I have never seen him. I was all covered up when he came in and did the procedure. I had heard from some of the nurses that he was really good looking and they really liked him.

Well, today I saw him for the first time and WOW, he is a HUNK!!!!!:p:p:p I mean this is one good looking doctor!!!!!!;);) He walked in the room and said his nurse told him that I had never seen him and asked me how he looked. I told him he looked just fine! LOL I'm probably old enough to be his mother but man oh man, he is cute!!!!

My Neuro called this morning and my blood work came back fine for everything related to my kidneys. She said my rhematiod arthritis test showed a high positive. I was a bit shocked by that! She is forwarding it to my PCP to see about sending me to a rheumatologist! I think it's a false positive and am not going to worry about it.:)

I just want to add one thing to you all with children either young or old. I have a 38 year old son that I raised by myself. His father and I divorced when he was 2 years old and I was the sole support financially and everything else.

I have one bit of advice, go with your gut feelings about what is going on with your child. Don't think for one minute that they are perfect. Tough love and strict rules are a must. It is so hard to do but do it for your sake and your child's sake.

I have been there and I can tell you it is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. It makes my MS seem like a walk in the park. I did not do it when he was a child and gave him too much freedom which was the opposite of the way I was raised. He never gave me a problem and never got into trouble. He was the best child in the world in my eyes.

I have been through the mill with my son, not as a teen but as an adult, believing that he would never do anything wrong or get into trouble since he was such a good child and teen.

My story is very long and messy but sometimes parents have to let go of their children until they grow up on their own. I am guilty of being an enabler and have suffered so much pain from knowing that I contributed to his problems.

I haven't seen him in a year now and don't know what the future holds. I have to stand firm on my decision to let him go and hope that he will get his life together and come home! I can't even begin to tell you how much I miss him and pray for him to be alright.

I am not singling anyone out so please don't think I am. I am not trying to be a know it all either. I just know that after what I have been through the pattern has to change or the child will never mature and be self sufficient.

lol I see this doc has a special way to test the pace maker....http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...ng_heart_2.gif

lol deb said cool on the hunk, hopefully he is a good doctor too lol, she also say hello to all here, I hope you all have a great weekend.

He is so cute that it doesn't matter if he is a good doctor. LOL:p:p:p

He doesn't check the pacemaker, he just implants it. The Medtronics tech checks it first and he isn't bad looking either. LOL:D I saw 2 really good looking men today and I was just smiling my head off. LOL:D I wish all doctor visits could be as good as this one.:D

Becky :hug: I posted as you did, Deb and i have had a wake up call recently as you and everyone knows, prayers to anyone having to go trough something like this :hug:Becky:hug:

Frank, that poem rings so true. I have one son, a junior in college now. I love the man that he's become and miss the baby boy he once was. Our children grow up way too fast.

Kelly, glad to hear you had a good night's sleep. My kitty loves boxes too. I've bought several kitty beds for her that she has never used even once. Give her an empty cardboard box and it's her new hideout and bed.:rolleyes:

Trish, congratulations on DD's GED!!:)

Becky, I hope your pacemaker is A-okay, and have a good visit with your dad.:hug:

Fin, I'm a member of the "but you look so good" camp too. It's frustrating to say the least. Take care and feel better soon.:hug:

Von, hope you're feeling better this afternoon.

Sandy and Jim, have a fun weekend!:)

Barb, great news about your mom!!:D I bet she's so excited and relieved to have all of her creature comforts back!


I'm feeling a little better today! Still really tired, but better! Still going to see my neuro on Tuesday though. I always have fatigue, but this feels different. One night I went to bed at 9pm and didn't wake up at all until 3pm the next day. Just have to wait and see what my doc thinks about it.

I'm ready for Sunday's football games. I'm in a pickem game with the guys at DH's work. I'm tied with one other guy for first place so far. DH said all the guy's were asking "who's Tara?" LOL I'm kickin' their behinds!!:D

Hugs to everyone!:grouphug:

Frank,

It is really hard to take and shakes you to the core. I know a lot of people are having problems especially in these days. I am praying for you and Deb also.

Hugs,
Becky:hug::hug::hug:

Tara kids are same way, you dont need to buy expensive toys just give them a few boxes:grin::rolleyes:


Thank you Becky;)

LOL....you are so right Frank!! Birthdays and Christmas........they would rather play with the boxes and wrapping paper!:D:p


Becky, I'm so glad your appt went well, actually it sounds like it was better than just well!;):p More like "ooolala" :D

Tara, glad to hear you're feeling better.

Becky, It's always better when the techs or docs are cute! :In-Lurve: ;) Glad to hear the pacemaker is ok

~~~~

Been a lump, but doing ok. Thinking of doing the pizza delivery thing for dinner. Hubby is at a training class, and I definitely don't feel up to cooking. I know he won't be either by the time he gets home - LOL.

Wow, what a difference a few hours makes. I was feeling a little droopy this afternoon and thought I'd call my PCP just to get an appointment for early next week. I was thinking I had a sinus infection or maybe just allergies. Something was making me cough and sneeze. Well, she asked me if I could come in before 4:30 PM and I said I could. I live less than 10 minutes away from the doctor's office.

Well, I went and it turns out I have a sinus infection!! He listened to my breathing and chest and said if I didn't start taking the antibiotics now and finish them I'd have bronchitis before long. :eek:

I got Augmentin and some cough syrup called Hydocan or something like that. It makes you drowsy and I just took some so I will be beddy-bye here in the next hour!!

Oh, and I had a slight fever....99.9 or something like that! No wonder I felt bad.

So glad I went before the weekend...:rolleyes:

(((Kelly))) I hope you feel better soon. I get those at least once a year and they do may you feel cruddy, yet you don't know why you feel cruddy until you get in the dr.

Becky - LOL. I am surprised your heart rate and such was so good with such a hunk of a dr. LOL.

Tara - That's funny. You are now the mysterious woman. How does it feel?

I'd say that's abnormally fatigued. Glad you got an appointment to go in. Let us know how it goes.

Fin - Pizza sounds good. That is what it would be at my house if DDs were home. DD17 has her homecoming game tonight and DD18 was "out looking for jobs" and is at her friends now. She's having dinner over there and then going to the game.

~~~
Woke up from my nap with spasms from the chest down so it's off to an Epsom salt bath in a bit. I am meeting up with DBF for dinner this evening, well maybe. :o:( Depending on if I can get these spasms under control.

This weekend is going to be crazy!!! We have company coming from MI tomorrow morning and need to get DBF's house ready as they are staying there, DD17 has a full schedule of fund raising and tie dying shirts for the fund raiser, more company on Monday, etc., etc.

Becky, I'm jealous......my doctor looks like Elmer Fudd. I'm not kidding. At least he didn't tell me to be verwy, verwy quiet!! :p

Kelly, :hug: hope you feel better soon.

Tricia, hope you get a chance to relax before all the company starts coming. Hope the bathtub trick works out for the spasms. :hug:

~~~~

Yep, pizza should be here around 8. probably just in time for hubby to get home :)

thanks, Tara .. and everyone ... but, I took a nap this aft :Red eyes:... and still don't feel hunky-dory ... even thinking about food .. .well, uh ... my tummy turns ...

back to the couch .. with headache ... tried to eat crackers ... maybe it wasn't a good idea ... :holysheep:

have a good night ... good thing you got to see :Poke: Dr Fudd today, Kelly!

the main difficulty for me is the chopping.

numb and clumsy hands mean I must be SHARPLY (lol, Frank!) aware at all times, and very, very careful.

we're a long way from a hospital out here in the jungle...

actually, I have my feeding route memorized around the farm, and if someone *talks* to me, or neighbors arrive to purchase flats of eggs, it seriously throws me off my stride.

it's only a 200 yard loop, from nursery to cages, to pond, to goat shed, but I'm usually shaking when I finish...

it takes me about 45 minutes to prep the food, and another 45 minutes to distribute it, and then I rest and read and go online and nap the whole rest of the day away (when it's hot here)

then, I do the same loop at dusk.

so, it's not actually bad, a total of 3 hours slow-careful work and walking, per day, half in the morning, and half near evening-time.

we set everything up so it's easy and accessible, with wide level paths (made with a Pathmate, in concrete) and benches along the route (thick wooden planks on legs)

the hardest part for me is undressing after I get back.

because of the bugs, I wear long pants, long sleeves, and THICK socks, and heavy slip-on sandals, and a bandana.

so, when I get back to the house, my hubby sometimes has to help me peel off the clothes, because I'm trembling with exhaustion...

but I'm stubborn, and my will is adamant... to follow my dream, have this little farm, raise my own food, and be a responsible person on the planet, so that ideal keeps me going... like, practicing what I preach.

:D:p:D

I tend the rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks, and geese, and mi esposo makes the cheese, yoghurt, collects eggs, and cares for the chickens, milks the goats, does the orchard and garden, tends the pigs, and does all the cooking, dishes, and laundry... and I sweep and mop, and make the bed.

the rest of the time, we totally goof off, watch downloaded movies, play games on the computer, and make jam, dry fruits, and goof off some more.

it's a GREAT way to retire !!

I'm supporting both of us on my SSDI, so, we'd be dirt poor, and eating poorly in the US... but here, we have everything, homegrown and homemade... think, um, Little House on the Prairie, but with old hippies doing the homesteading instead of pioneers.

:D:cool::D

hooooray for the new chair !! and hopes for less aches, kiddo!

my kitty's mostly too old to play, gee, ya make me miss that... hiding in boxes and drawers... she's like me, mostly sleeps all day.

oh, and glad you're sleeping better, honey... adjusting to retirement can be difficult at first.

I sank into a major depression, and gained a LOT of weight.

find something that you HAVE to do every day, that fulfills aa deep part of your soul, and that will help a lot, I promise...

um, by the way?

I am totally paranoid of snakes, spiders, and scorpions.

I shake out all my clothes and shoes before dressing, and look carefully at everything I touch outside.

it's good, because it means I have to be in a state of awareness all the time, and move slowly, so... the GOOD upshot is, I get hurt a lot less, and fall a LOT less, lol!

so, I wear heavy white athletic socks, knee-high, pulled UP and over my pants legs, lol! so nothing can crawl inside ( :eek: )

the sandals are those plastic Chinese thingies, very wide, flat, and stable, heavy soles, mainly for keeping the socks mostly clean & dry.

I wear knee-high, thick-soled rubber boots when it rains, the soil here is clay, and gets slipperier than snail snot, so I need good traction.

pancake guy, LOL, still chuckling over THAT one...

:D:p:D

today was our builder-guy's last day...

everything is finished, cabinets built, hurricane shelter done, nurseries up and running, cage area finished and tidy, land all bush-whacked, both houses complete, and all outbuildings and pens and sheds finished.

plus, I'm outta money from selling my house in California, as of today, we're officially living on my SSDI, and hopefully mostly self-sufficient.

we;ll be selling eggs, milk, cheese and meat to our neighbors for spare cash too.

so, today was inspections, and last minute checks, and then a trip to Mennonite-ville for bales of hay, to take advantage of his last day on the property.

so, we were gone for five hours - it's a long drive, then a hand-cranked ferry ride, over the river, and through the rainforest...

:D ;) :D

three posts in a row, ain't'cha SORRY I'm baaaaaaaack ??

I'll be gone 500 miles 'fore the day is done!

ahhhhhhhhhhh, sweet baby-snuggling time...

well, I have my substitutes... our rabbits somehow managed to make only BOY babies... so, over in the Mennonite village, we got a pair of gorgeous furry little female bunnies... gray and black and white, with BLUE eyes, and so sweet... so, I was busy setting up their pellet dispensers, water bottles, salt licks, and hay... and making sure they were comfortable.

didn't y MISS me, dude ??

hee hee hee... that makes FOUR posts in a row, seriously, I'm on a ROLL here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:winky:;):winky: